Improvement in postage-stamps



' I g V -nitehftstes gamut first Jon-NM. smas eson NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 79,157, dated June 23, 1868; "antedated June 10, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN POSTAGESTAMPSF.

T0 aLL'wHoM-rr MA' Y CONCERN? Be it known that I, JoHN M. STunenon, of the city of New York, in the countyof New York, and State of New York, have inventedanew and useful Method of Cancelling Stamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The nature of my invention consists- First, in attaching the stamp to a paper or other surface, by means of a ceme'nt or mucilage, so insoluble inwater that any application of water, or steam, forthe purpose of facilitating theremoval of the stamp, will destroy the integrity of the paper before dissolving or materially diminishing 'the adhesiveuess of the cement.

U Second, in printing upon the face or back of the stamp,'with,perfectly colorless and invisible ink, the word cancelled, or any other cancelling-device, said inlc having the property of becoming dark-colored and visible whenever dampened.

Third, in the preparation of a new colored vegetable ink, peculiarly adapted to the printing of stamps,- bills, bonds, and other like instruments, to which said colorless and'invisible ink is to be applied, as: aforesaid,

The first part ofmy invention Icarry into efl'ect as follows-: I make a cement or mucilage by mixing together animal glu e,isa c.charine matter, either honey or molasses, and acetic acid. The proportions will depend in some degree upon 'th'e'densityof the glue, as 'well as of the saccharine matter, but a sufliciency of the latter must be used to forms. mucilage of the proper consistency.. These ingredients are to be well ground together, and will form a cement so far insoluble in water that it cannot be softened and its tenacity destroyed, by the application of water or steam, without destroying the integrity ,of the paper. Stamps may be coated with this mucilage for future use in the ordinary way.

The second part of my invention I carry into effect as follows: I make a preparation of four parts tannic acid, one part sulphate of iron, one part gallic acid, two parts of'starch, and two parts balsam Riga, reduced to impalpable powder andwell ground together, forming a paste of about the consistency of printers ink. I do not, however, limit-myself to these proportions, as they may be considerably varied. With this preparation I print words, figures, or devices 'o n the face or back of the stamp,'which are colorless and invisible until damp ened, when theywill turn a dark color and become perfectly'distinct. The whole face or back of the stamp may be coated with this preparation inany suitable way, in which case the whole face of the stamp will turn a very, dark color on being dampened. When this preparation is applied to the back of the stamp, the color will be brought out by wetting the mucilagefor the purpose of attaching the'stamp, and will show through the paper, so as to becom'eapparent on the face of the stamp, which will thus-become cancelled in the very act of attachingit, but when appliedto the face,thecancelling-device will only become apparent on an attempt to remove the stamp by wetting it. r

The third part of my invention I carry into cfi'ect as follows: I take scarlet, crimson, or other lakes, sap green, indigo,- or other suitable vegetable coloring-matter, and add flour, starch, and balsam copaiba, in such proportions as will produce a proper consistency, the coloring-matter to be applied in sufiicient quantity to pro duce the desired tint, all to be pulverized and well ground together.

The first and second parts of my invention may be used separately, for the purpose specified, but 'to get the best results I recommend the use of all incombination. I i

Having thus fully describedlmy invention, and the. several modes of carrying itinto efl'ect, what I claim as my invention, and desiret o secure by Letters Patent, is- A l I I. Attaching stamps to papers or other surfaces by means of an insoluble mucilage or cement, prepared substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth. I

2. I also claim printing upon the face or back of the stamp with the colorless and invisible ink above described, or its equivalent, any:cancelling-mark or device, which will become visible on being dampened by water or steam, as and for the purpose set forth. r I

3.-I also claim, as an article of manufacture, the insoluble-mucilage or cement above described.

4. I also claim, as an article of manufacture, astamp coated with the insoluble mucilag -or c'emelit above described.

5. I also claim, as an a-rtile of manufacture, a stamp having a. cancelling-device printed upo'n its face or ba'ck ihfihe above-described co1or1 e'ss ink, or its equivalent, as and for thepurpos dscribed. w

6. I also claimyas a ne,w manufacture, the CGiOifCd vegetable printing-ink, prepared substantially described JNO. M. STU-RGEON,

Witnesses;- J. J. 000M125,

HENRY FAYET'L 

